Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-02-26

night. and were up and dressed by Tx
first peep of dawn. The familie,
gathered on the shore to bid them boz
voyage, and as the first red beams o
the sun Furnished the western hills
they waived adieu to the friends be.
hind, and the sharp ring of the stee
echoed from shor" to shore, as they
sped around the bend in the river.
Sometime after noon, their destination
was reached, without incident worthy
of mention. After a short rest and
the purchase Of Il s5v groceries, foI
which they paid a fabulous price, the
loads were adjusted in game bags,
brought for the purpose, and full OF
hope, the home journey began. Seve-
raj miles had slipped behind
them before they noticed that the
sun had suddenly yelled himself, and
billow upon biliow of western clouds,
full of ominous warnings, we're sweep
ing down upon them. They quickened
their strokes until the field of ice
seemed to Gid from under them. No
use. A solitary snowflake struck the
ice at their feet and sent "A score of
radiating shafts in as many directions.
Another and another, until the winding
sheet of ice was lost in the binding
storm. Brave at heart, full of that
energy that has snatched the western
wilds from the teeth of barharism, they
do not despair. For a time they kept
close together by helloing, but as they
became more wearied, and the storm
thickened around them, the in
term between their shouts be-.
came more prolonged. Ray gave a
shout that even on the wings of the
wind told Of fatigue. He listened for
his friends response. The echoes from
the hills bore it back unanswered.
Again and again he sent his voice on
the winds, only to have it, filled with
a moirnfal accent, returned from the
mountains of snow. Wider and wider
he circled in his fruitless search, but
no trace of his friend. Could he be
in advance. and his voice failed 20 have
reached him. 1t was possible. AT
least, in that direction lay home and
friends, and duty. Filled with dark
forbodings ne pushed on down the
stream. Darkness was fast approach
ing, but down the river he saw a beacon
light-a lantern swinging on = willow
to guide him home. How coulo ne
face the inquiring faces there? The
thought almost appalled, him.
In the meantime what had become
of Carl. Swimming along through the
binding storm he had suddenly felt
the ice give way beneath him. He tried
to cry ont, bat fright claimed his
tongue, and he closed his eyes to his
certain fate. His life passed before
him as his body shot through the
~treacherous air-hole. What was his
surprise when a heavy jar informed
him that he fallen upon something
solid. instead of being buried beneath
the chilling waves Stunned, dazed,
he looked around in utter bewilder-
ment, Where was he? Several feet
above him a roof of ice, beautifully
frosted, stretched away in the un-
known distance. Below him n floor of
the same material spead out until lost
in gloom, while on either side an inn
mense, dimly-lighted cavern, gorgeous
in its equalization, met his wondering
eyes.
Slowly the truth dawned upon him.
The river had fallen from the high
stage at which it had frozen first, and
the ice below him had been made at a
later date. Thus he stood between
high and low water, the ice above him
out of reach, that below him threaten
ing every moment from its f~railness to
precipitate him to the waters below.
He could hear the bowls of the wind
above, and the ripple of the waters
below. The thought of death in that
lonely ice-locked caver filed him with
despair. Escape he must. He could
not reach the ice above. but an idea
that gave some hope flashed
through his Train. 1t was
cold above - intensely, freezing
cold. Taking the groceries from
his game bag. package oy package, he
threw them on the ice above. With
his knife he cut a hole in the ice be-
meath, and dipping the heavy bag in
the water, gave it time to Thoroughly
soak. Then holding it by the strap
he cast the heavy end upon the ice
above. With a faltering faith he tried
his weight upon the strap. 1t holds.
A moment more he stands with only
the canopy above him. The storm
still oars. but he does not hear
it. The binding snow beats him in
the face, but he does not feel il. The
terrible prison from which he had
escaped would make the bleakest snow
storm mellow with sunlight.
He reached home soon after Ray
had told of his mysterious disappear
ance, and when the JOY of his presence
had waited away the ear of sorrow
and dIspelled the shadow of gloom, he
told a happy audience his thrilling adj
venture.
Confidence in IA mar who handles